German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) and SPD leader Martin Schulz (Source: AFP/VNA) |
SPD leader Martin Schulz told a news conference the party leadership had reached the decision out of a sense of responsibility to Germany and Europe after Merkel’s attempt to form a government with the pro-business Free Democrats and environmental Greens smaller parties collapsed on Sunday.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host a meeting with Schulz, Merkel and Horst Seehofer, leader of the CDU’s arch-conservative Bavarian sister party, next Thursday.